Do you want your walls to look like this in Autumn. If so then the Parthenocissus family are the plants for you.

Description of Virginia Creeper

• Parthenocissus quinquefolia or Virginia creeper is a woody, climbing shrub that can reach great heights when supported by a building.
• The flowers are small and greenish, produced in clusters in late spring, and mature in late summer or early fall into small, hard, toxic, purplish-black berries up to half inch long.
• The large leaves are five fingered hence the quinquefolia name tag.
• The plant clings by suckers and after the first few feet it will not need any support. The plant should not harm sound walls but to remove kill the plant first and let the suckers die back.
• Creepers can kill other supporting plants by smothering and stopping light getting to them.

Other Creepers

• Boston Ivy Parthenocissus tricuspidata is not an Ivy but a Grape or Vitacaea, Very similar to Virginia Creeper the leaves are less palmate but colour well.
• Chinese Creeper Parthenocissus henryana (AGM) is also referred to as the silver vein creeper and is renown for grand Autumn colour aswell as veined leaves. It is less rampant and more delicate than many other ornamental grape vines.
• Parthenocissus inserta supports with tendrils more than suckers and scrambles over walls and hedges
• Parthenocissus thomsonii has a slender habit and purple growths early in the year.

Creeper Growing and Problems

• The fast growth has blocked out windows on this London creeper
• Birds love the fruit but they are only produced in quantity during a hot dry summer
• Insects will like the living accommodation provided
• Grow from seed or cuttings
• Be ready for regular trimming once established.